Sabbatical from both Delta Spirit and indie supergroup Middle Brother, Matthew Logan Vasquez follows up last year’s Austin EP with a full-length as lively and invested as anything he’s recorded. A native Texan who spent time in California and New York, Vasquez utilizes Solicitor Returns as an outlet for his copious songwriting output. It’s truly a solo effort, with nearly every note on the disc (save two drum tracks and a guitar part) his own. Sonically, there’s some departure from the spirited post-punk mixed with folk-influenced melodies of Delta Spirit, but not so much that band faithful will be driven away. The most extreme example, “Everything I Do Is Out,” plies angry grunge. There’s also gleaming power-pop (“Personal”) and a gorgeous piano ballad with Beatle-esque harmonies (“Muerte Tranquila”) that closes the set. Solicitor Returns, Vasquez unleashed.

***.5

This article appears in February 12 • 2016.

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